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Oxygen Not Included similar games & best alternatives

Oxygen Not Included

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2019

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Quick resume

Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game. Deep inside an alien space rock your industrious crew will need to master science, overcome strange new lifeforms, and harness incredible space tech to survive, and possibly, thrive.

Global score

97/100

Genres

Indie, Simulator, Strategy

Similar games

    Pros

    • Deep and complex gameplay
    • High replayability
    • Engaging colony management
    • Regular updates and developer support
    • Unique blend of science and strategy

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve
    • High micromanagement demands
    • Limited social interaction
    • Performance issues in late game
    • Lack of multiplayer

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players can assign primary and secondary tasks to colonists and manage their schedules, with freedom to build and expand the colony and choose strategies (economic or military)."

      Capsule for Space Colony: Steam Edition Space Colony: Steam Edition

      "Players direct duplicants by assigning tasks and priorities, with freedom to design and optimize colony systems."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      5

      "High skill ceiling with complex mechanics, strategic planning, and learning curve requiring mastery of many systems."

      Capsule for Europa Universalis IV Europa Universalis IV

      "High skill and knowledge required to manage complex systems and solve technical challenges."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and colony management without explicit player-vs-player competition or leaderboards."

      Capsule for Solargene Solargene

      "Focus is on personal colony management and progression, with minimal direct player competition."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      5

      "Highly addictive with strong replayability, players report long sessions and habitual play."

      Capsule for Roboquest VR Roboquest VR

      "Highly addictive with long play sessions and extensive replayability reported by players."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      2

      "Players manage multiple characters and troops working together, but no multiplayer cooperation; teamwork is AI-driven."

      Capsule for Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc

      "Players manage groups of duplicants working together, but social cooperation is AI-driven."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      5

      "Extensive building, automation, and programming systems enable creative problem solving and base design."

      Capsule for Stationeers Stationeers

      "Strong emphasis on creative base design, system building, and problem-solving."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -4

      "Interactions are balanced within the colony and against AI enemies, without social dominance or trash talk."

      Capsule for Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation

      "Interactions are balanced and cooperative within the colony; no player dominance or PvP."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game as an immersive, challenging distraction from real life."

      Capsule for Raw Metal Raw Metal

      "Players use the game as a complex, immersive distraction and mental challenge."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation, enjoying the challenge."

      Capsule for Card Survival: Fantasy Forest Card Survival: Fantasy Forest

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and personal challenge."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      5

      "Players explore mechanics, experiment with strategies, and try different colony setups."

      Capsule for Grim Realms Grim Realms

      "Players experiment with mechanics, layouts, and strategies to optimize colony survival."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      3

      "Procedurally generated maps with changing biomes encourage discovery and exploration."

      Capsule for 10 Miles To Safety 10 Miles To Safety

      "Procedurally generated maps and asteroid types encourage discovery and adaptation."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      3

      "Some customization of colony layout and upgrades allows personal expression"

      Capsule for Empires of the Undergrowth Empires of the Undergrowth

      "Customization of colony layout and duplicant roles allows personal expression."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -2

      "The game features cartoonish, simple graphics and physics-based gameplay grounded in plausible mechanics rather than fantasy."

      Capsule for DDNet DDNet

      "Game grounded in realistic physics and science, despite cartoonish style."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -3

      "Gameplay is focused on solo colony management with minimal social interaction."

      Capsule for Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation

      "Minimal social interaction; focus on managing own colony and duplicants."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      5

      "Strong learning curve with continuous skill development, knowledge acquisition, and mastery over time."

      Capsule for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

      "Strong learning curve with continuous personal development and mastery."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

      Capsule for Party Hard Party Hard

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -4

      "Requires continuous attention and micromanagement; players actively control colony and respond to events."

      Capsule for RimWorld RimWorld

      "Requires constant attention and micromanagement to maintain colony stability."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Limited social connections; interactions are mostly functional and task-oriented rather than emotional."

      Capsule for Exogate Initiative Exogate Initiative

      "Limited emotional connections; interactions are mostly task-focused."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      4

      "Player leads and manages survivors and resource allocation, directing group actions and priorities."

      Capsule for Siege Survival: Gloria Victis Siege Survival: Gloria Victis

      "Players lead and manage duplicants, assigning roles and priorities."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong progression through research, resource accumulation, and colony expansion."

      Capsule for Whiskerwood Whiskerwood

      "Strong progression through technology research, colony expansion, and resource management."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -2

      "Gameplay involves sustained tension and challenge, though some find it engaging and rewarding."

      Capsule for Rebel Inc: Escalation Rebel Inc: Escalation

      "Game involves sustained tension and challenge, though some find it rewarding."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Art style and sound design provide sensory enjoyment but not intense stimulation."

      Capsule for Nocturnals Nocturnals

      "Appealing art and sound design provide sensory enjoyment, but not intense stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -4

      "Achievements and progress are personal; little social recognition or status seeking."

      Capsule for Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 Car Mechanic Simulator 2021

      "Achievements and progress are personal; little social recognition or competition."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      1

      "Minimal narrative; some lore and environmental storytelling but focus is on gameplay."

      Capsule for QuiVr QuiVr

      "Minimal narrative; some lore and emergent storytelling through gameplay."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

      "Requires strategic planning, problem solving, and resource management."

      Capsule for SimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition SimCity™ 4 Deluxe Edition

      "Requires complex planning, problem solving, and strategic resource management."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Tense moments managing colony survival under threat provide excitement and suspense"

      Capsule for Empires of the Undergrowth Empires of the Undergrowth

      "Tension from survival challenges and risk of colony failure create suspense."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      5

      "Players report excellent value for time and money with extensive content."

      Capsule for Aground Aground

      "Players report excellent value for time and money with extensive content and updates."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on building and maintaining colony."

      Capsule for Whiskerwood Whiskerwood

      "No combat or destruction; focus on constructive colony building and management."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around managing threats and keeping colony alive under harsh conditions."

      Capsule for Oxygen: First Breath Oxygen: First Breath

      "Core gameplay centers on overcoming threats and maintaining colony survival."

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Fantasy.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Last update: 30/04/2026